Combination fracture board, stretcher, and vibrating seesaw gravity respirator with holding belt



Feb. 13, 1951 J. R. EVANS 2,541,225

COMBINATION FRACTURE BOARD, STRETCHER, AND VIBRATIN SEESAW GRAVITY RESPIRATOR WITH HOLDING BELT Filed May 11, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l fnyerzfor Eng/5 Feb. 13, 1951 J. R. EVANS 2,541,

COMBINATION FRACTURE BOARD, STRETCHER, AND VIBRATING SEESAW GRAVITY RESPIRATOR WITH HOLDING BELT -2 Sheets-Sheet 2:

Filed May 11, 1948 JO/Ziz 1 35004225 Patented Feb. 13, 1951 COMBINATION FRACTURE BOARD,

STRETCHER, AND

VIBRATING SEESAW GRAVITY RESPIRATOR WITH HOLDING BELT John R. Evans, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 11, 1948, Serial No. 26,416

7 Claims.

This invention has to do with improvements in an apparatus for carrying on artificial respiration. More particularly this invention concerns a rigid, stretcher-like member which is arranged for rocking, in seesaw fashion, a person strapped thereon who is suffering from asphyxiation or the like for the purpose of restoring normal breathmg.

The apparatus of the present invention is particularly adapted to carry out the rocking, or Eve method of artificial respiration. Further, in that it provides a substantially rigid table portion for a stretcher, the device of this invention may be used as a fracture board for transporting persons who have fractured limbs or the like. i The apparatus is readily converted from a stretcher to a seesaw respirator. In addition, with the device arranged for use as a respirator, means are provided for imparting a more or less jolting action near the end of each rocking stroke to help actuate the lungs of a patient strapped thereon.

It is accordingly an important object of this invention to provide an efficient apparatus for carrying out the artificial respiration of a person by the rocking or Eve method.

Another object of this invention is to provide a respirator which is quickly and easily changed from a flat, stretcher-like member to a teetertotter arrangement with the patient strapped thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stretcher board arranged for rocking movement about a pivot stand which will impart a jolting movement at the end of each tilting movement to give an added impulse to the action of the abdominal contents on the diaphragm of the patient.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel collapsible pivot stand which automatically locks itself in a rigid, expanded condition as it is swung into operating position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a lightweight, durable combination stretcher and respirator which is easily carried from place to place and which, due to its light weight, does not add measurably to the total weight which must be' transported.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the combination stretcher and respirator of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 1III of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the combination stretcher and respirator of Figure 1 with a portion of the holding belt broken away;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on line IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view,

partly in section and partly broken away, taken substantially on line V-V of Figure 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the combination stretcher and respirator of this invention showing it in position for use as a respirator with the pivot stand in expanded, rigid, operating condition;

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the longitudinal center line of the stretcher showing the position of the stretcher as it is being moved to its operating position as a respirator and showing the stand member dropping downwardly to assume its position as a rigid fulcrum stand;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on line VIII-VIII of Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line IX--IX of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line X--X of Figure 3; and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line XI--XI of Figure 6 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In Figures '1, 2 and 3 the reference numeral [0 indicates generally the combination stretcher and respirator of this invention. This stretcher comprises a pair of side tubular frame members I I and I2 over which is disposed a table-like member 13, preferably made of a light-weight metal such as aluminum, which has overlapping side portions 14, Figure 3, which may be suitably secured, as by welding to the tubular side irame members i l and I2 and which has rolled end portions [5 and [6 which fit snugly between the side support members II and I2 and are rigidly secured thereto. The side support members I l and I2 have offset end portions I! andl8, respectively, which provide hand portions spaced from the bottom of the stretcher for convenient grasping by the carriers when the stretcher is laid on the ground.

For the purpose of securing the patient on the stretcher while he is being transported from place to place or while he is undergoing artificial respiration by the rocking method, there is provided a belt 20, made of any suitable belting material, secured at one end to a U-shaped clamp member 2| having leg portions 2|a pivotally disposed about the side frame member I I. A buckle 22 is secured to a short length of belt 23 which in turn is pivotally secured to a U-shaped bracket 25 which is similar to the bracket 2| and is pivotally mounted on the side frame member l2.

The fulcrum stand of this invention Figure 6 comprises a pair of inner legs 21 and a pair of outer leg members 28 pivotally mounted on a cross rod 29 and spaced apart thereon by spacer blocks Figure 3. The ends of the rod 29 "are slidably mounted in box-like support members 3|, one of which is secured to the inner side of each side rod l and l2.

The inner legs 21 are rigidly secured together in spaced relation "by 'a cross rod 32 and tubular cross braces 33 all suitably secured as by welding tothe .leg members.

The outer leg members '28 have a pair of cross braces 35, preferably made of flat straps secured, as by welding, at their ends to the leg members.

In order that the leg members '21 and '28 may be held in a rigid locked condition as a fulcrum stand, as shown in Figure '6, there is provided a bracket assembly 3'! connecting the leg members 2! and 23 on either side of the stretcher and including arms 38 and 39, each of which is pivotally secured to a leg member. The arm members 38 and 39 are pivotally connected at their inner ends by "means of 'a rivet 40. As the arms move into their aligned position an inturned edge 4|, Figure ll, of the arm 38 moves into a slot 42, Figure '7, of the arm 39 to limit the downward movement of the arms when they reach a straight :line position.

To maintain the aligned position Of the arms 38 and 39 there is provided a spring clip 43 fastened at one end in a bracket 44 secured to the arm 39 and having at its free end a bent over portion 45 which is normally disposed in an aperture 46 of the arm 39 and which is arranged, when the arms are aligned, to drop through a hole 41 in the arm 38. When the end '45 is projecting through the holes, as shown in Figure 11, the fulcrum stand :is looked in a rigid position. A button 43 secured to the spring member :43 and projecting through a hole 49 in the arms 39 is effective to push the end member 45 out of the hole 4? of the arm 38 when it is desired to unlock the arms 38 and 39.

For the purpose of holding the legs 2'! in a substantially concealed position under the cover of the stretcher, there is provided a spring clip 5| secured as by 'a rivet 52 to the underside of the stretcher top I3 and disposed to receive the cross bar 32 of the leg assembly 21 when it is pivoted into position against the bottom side of the top portion 3. The leg members 28 are held in this concealed position by means of a pair of locking members 53 which are pivotally mounted on the handle portions of the side members i! and i2 adjacent the hand of the operator. In Figure 5 it is seen that the locking member 53 comprises a lever 54 pivotally mounted from either side frame member ll or 12 and having a slot 55 in its forward end receiving therein a pin '56 connected across the bifurcated end of a push rod 51. The push rod 51 passes through suitable apertures in the tubular frame member 12 having a free end 58 which passes into a'slot 59 in the leg member 28. A coil spring 60 is disposed between a shoulder 6| on the push rod 51 and one surface of the frame member |2.

It is readily seen that when the outer end of the lever 54 is pivoted inwardly toward the structural frame member l2, the push rod will he slid outwardly from its position in the slot in the leg member 28 against the resistance of the spring 50. Of course, when the push rod 5'! is withdrawn from the leg member 28, the leg member 28 will be free to pivot downwardly into its operating position as a fulcrum stand. Thus, the lock assembly 53 acts to hold the leg members 28 in a concealed position when not being used and, due to the fact that the lever 54 is adjacent the handle portion 14 of the structural member |2 it can be easily operated by the carrier of the stretcher without affecting his ability to support the weight of the person on the stretcher. It is to be noted in Figure 2 that the outer end of the lever 54 may be inclined upwardly to conform with the upturned handle portion of the side frame members II and I2.

In Figures 8 and 9 there is shown in detail the support block 3| which is secured by rivets 65 to the side frame members. This support member has a bottom wall 66 and side walls 37 and 68 which project outwardly away from the frame member. The top wall 59 of the support member 3| has a wavy, curved configuration forming three pockets 10 into which the pivot rod 29,, on which the fulcrum stand is pivoted, is arranged to be positioned. As thus seen inFigure 6 in full lines, the pivoting respirator has just reached the top of the rocking movement. In this drawing the pivot rod 29 is shown in the lowermost of the pockets 10 of the support member 3|. However, just as the stretcher reaches this pivoted point the weight of the person on the stretcher and the momentum dueto the combined weight of the stretcher and person on the stretcher will cause to move downwardly with the pivot rod 29 .moving along the surfaces between the pockets until it is in the uppermost pocket. Thus, near the end of each rocking stroke, an additional, more or less jolting action is given to the stretcher to help actuate the patients lungs.

The respirator apparatus of the present invention is put into operation .in the following manner. If the asphyxiated person is lying on the ground, the stretcher is laid on the ground alongside of him as shown in Figure .2. The patient is then carried or rolled over onto the stretcher with his face downwardly at the end of the stretcher opposite to the end at which the release clamp 53 is secured. The strap 20 is then secured around the patient in order to .hold him firmly on the stretcher. While standing at the operating end, that is, the end with the release lever assemblies 53, the stretcher is pivoted upwardly about the handle members I1 and I8 at the other end. When the stretcher has been pivoted about 45, the release lever 53 is pressed which withdraws the push rod 5'1 and allows the lower outer leg members 28 to drop downwardly, as shown in Figure '7. As these leg members 28 drop downwardly it causes the bracket assembly 3? to move into its locked position and further moving downwardly of the lower leg members 28 will cause the cross arm 32 to be pulled out of the spring clip 5| and thus the whole fulcrum stand assembly will drop downwardly with the leg members 28 resting on the ground as shown in Figure '7. The operator then grasps the handle portions of the side members H and l2 and pulls backwardly pivoting the whole assembly about the leg members 2? until it assumes the position indicated in Figure 6. When this position is attained the rocking, artificial respiration procedure may be begun. As previously noted at the end of each tilting or rocking stroke the support boxes 3| will cause an added impulse to be given to the rocking movement in a downward direction. It will, of course, be possible to release the lever assembly 53 before the initial pivoting movement of the patient off the ground is begun. In this case the lower leg members 28 will be in a hanging position at all times until the bracket assembly 31 is fastened into place. At this time it will probably be necessary to give the leg assembly a push with the foot to release the cross bar 32 from the spring clip 5|.

Thus it is seen that there is provided in this invention a novel combination stretcher and respirator. This apparatus is made of a lightweight material and has a minimum of moving parts which are subject to wear. The parts of this assembly are so designed and coordinated that one person can efiiciently carry out the rocking method of artificial aspiration from the very initial step of placing the patient on the stretcher to the final step of the continued rocking stroke. A particular feature of this invention is the arrangement whereby an added jolt- 0 ing impulse is given to the stretcher at the end of each rocking stroke.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the prin r ciples of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for carrying out artificial respiration comprising a table member, support boxes secured to said table having curved longitudinal wall portions and a fulcrum stand having a cross rod with end portions pivotally disposed in said support boxes, said cross rod end portions being in slidable contact with the curved Wall portions of said support boxes, said curved wall portions being moved in conjunction with said table with respect to said cross rod end portions as said table is rocked on said fulcrum stand for imparting a wavy motion to the table.

2. A device for carrying out artificial respiration comprising a rigid table, first and second pairs of legs for pivotally supporting said table, locking means on said table for holding said first pair of legs close to said table, and a clip on said table for holding said second pair of legs close to the underside of said table, release of said locking means causing said first pair of legs to drop downwardly for disengaging said second pair of legs from said clip and spring clip. means for automatically locking said first and second pair of legs in spread apart, rigid position as they drop downwardly from the underside of said table.

3. A device for carrying out artificial respiration comprising a rigid table member, a collapsible fulcrum stand in supporting relation with said table, said stand when in collapsed condition being pivotable relative to said table into a position against the lower surface thereof and a locking means on said table for engaging said collapsed stand and holding it close up under said table, said locking means including a lever movably mounted on said table member and having an end portion movable into holding contact with said stand.

4. A device for carrying out artificial respiration comprising a pair of tubular side arm members with offset handle portions at either end thereof, a fiat table member rigidly disposed between said side arms, a collapsible fulcrum stand pivotally associated with said table, said fulcrum stand being movable close up under said table member between said side arms, a locking device pivotally mounted on said side arm adjacent said handle portion having an arm engaging said collapsed stand for holding it against said table and belt means for holding a patient on said table.

5. A device for use in artificial respiration comprising a stand, a table disposed above said stand, means for pivotally mounting said table on said stand, and guide means having an irregular contact surface for cooperating with said pivot means to impart a jolting movement to said table as said table is moved to an inclined pivoted position.

6. A device for use in artificial respiration comprising a support stand having a transverse rod, a table pivotally mounted on said rod and a. guide member secured to said table having a rod receiving passage of irregular configuration, said transverse rod having a portion slidably disposed in the rod receiving passage of said guide member for longitudinal movement along the passage, said guide member being movable in conjunction with said table with respect to said rod thereby causing a vibrating movement of the table-carrying rod as said table is pivoted to an inclined position.

'7. A device for use in artificial respiration comprising a support stand, a transverse rod on said stand, a table, a pivot housing secured at each side of said table, said housing having laterally projecting walls defining opposed longitudinal openings for receiving the ends of said rod in pivoting relation, said longitudinal openings having a wavy configuration for cooperation with the end of said rods to impart a vibratingmovement to said table when said table is pivoted to an inclined position.

JOHN R. EVANS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Great Britain Feb. 1, 1934 

